Windows 7 - My Approach to Windows Updates

Over the years dealing with updates for various Windows OS's, I have adopted the following approach. My question to the experts here is this approach still valid.

I learned from bitter experience that Windows updates can sometimes cause more trouble that what they are trying to fix. My approach is to turn off automatic updates and just receive the notifications. I read about each update and if it does not apply to my computer or I am not having the problem it addresses, I don't download and install it. Even for critical updates, I wait for the recommendations of experts on forums like this before I install them.

My approach is just the opposite. I've experienced very limited problems with Windows updates over the years that I just let my machine install them. The only exception to this is that I hold on service packs for awhile as well as Internet Explorer versions.

The way I think about it, these updates are critical for a reason. Now perhaps today I don't use the functionality that the patch corrects. But 3 or 4 months down the road, I may install an application which does require said functionality and I'm unsure that I would remember the critical patch from 4 months ago that I decided to not install that I now need. That's assuming I know exactly that functionality is being used by each and every application that is installed on my computer. If I don't know, I'm not entirely sure that I can successfully evaluate whether I really need a patch or not.

In addition, I also have run the WSUS (automatic update server) for a couple of different employees and it's rare that I decline or unapprove most updates. So, I'm often controlling the decision making for many different machines and I've rarely had any issues in approving and installing these updates.

I have had update notifications turned on since I installed Windows 7 and been consistently installing the updates available as readily as I can. I have had no issues with updates affecting my system stability.

Is it possible an update could go wrong? Sure.

Is it also possible I could get into a car accident on the way home today? Also sure.

The potential of something bad happening is always there, but the rewards often outweigh the risks in my opinion. Plus I personally have things I would rather be doing than googling every single update Microsoft puts out to get feedback on it.

I have the notification turned on; I just don't allow automatic installation.

Anything pertaining to windows update is disabled on my PC.

Once a while i might check for updates. Skim through the list and download what I deem worthwhile after analyzing them.